Map development thread

[Rhye]

Let's begin with analysing map size.

For comparison, here are the maps from RFC Antiquity (90x40), TAM huge (160x65), TAM standard (80x37) and Greek World (81x81).

 

[Rhye]

Shape:
- The little stretch on one axis is useful to extend the Mediterranean, compared to the peripheral regions.
- I've worked on a extension of the central regions, in particular Italy and Greece, in order to allow more cities.
- The outer ring is thinner, the Sahara is shorter.
- Northern lands are reduced by the addition of the British Isles.


With a size of be 84x80, that is, almost the same of Greek World, the Mediterranean now has the same size of the bigger maps shown above, without going past 7000 plots!


1st preview:

Rivers, terrains, features and resources, of course, are still missing.

2nd preview:

3rd preview:

4th preview - new map 63x60:

I will keep posting previews on this thread.

 

[SadoMacho]

Looking fine

How are you goint the solve the Dardanelles and the Hellespont?

The Black Sea a bit smaller maybe, as there were some Greec colonies overthere?

 

[T_F]

I have to admit, since this is a historical mod, I would prefer seeing a map that's more like an actual map of Europe than the Greeks' view of it. Considering the Romans had territories that would be outside of that ringed map (western Spain and almost all of Britain), maybe it's better to go for a realistic map.

 

[Blue Sun]

Remember in that times, weather was different. Sahara was wetter than now, and many european lands were covered by forests (for example Iberia)

 

[General Toad]

I, while not a common voice in the forums, agree with T F. While I think you did a good job with that revised Greek World map, Rhye, I would like to see a move realisticly shaped map. Out of the ones you posted, I think TAM Huge looks the best. Sure, there's uneeded desert in the form of most of the southern portion of the map, but if that's what's needed...

 

[SadoMacho]

I disagree. This MOD wil be mostly about the classical Greec age and there Roman succesors. It is important that these areas will be larger and more in focus. The ancient civs have there land as wel, the other civs are less important. About Rome, I don't think the AI will be able to conquer the historical area anyway. Same for human players, it was hard enough for us in RFC.

Maybe Persia needs a little work

 

[Panopticon]

I agree with SadoMacho, especially about Persia. Persepolis looks like a desert in that screenshot; it's going to need either better land, or a lot of bonuses, to be able to grow into the regional hegemon it ought to be.

 

[Rhye]

Please note that I wrote that terrain was a placeholder.

I'm not using other maps. This won't be a clone of TAM

 

[ZachScape]

Maybe Cyprus can be a lot smaller, half the size of Crete? That's how it looks in Hecataeus' map, plus I think it would look better.

 

[kairob]

I really like the 'Greek view' style map, I think it helps emphasise important areas as well as giving the mod a distinct 'feel'.

Also, I cant see the preview in the second post anymore (I could this morning).

 

[Metal Alloy Man]

Somewhere between TAM and Greek World would be good. Also, Blue Sun makes an interesting point about weather that deserves some consideration.

 

[Big Rob]

I like the Greek World map. Reminds me of the Jerusalem "T" maps.

 

[T_F]

Yeah, the Greek world map is nice for 'feel', but it just feels like since this is supposed to be a historical mod, having a deliberately inaccurate map doesn't make sense. Emphasizing more important bits of the map is fine - like the normal RFC map has an enlarged Europe - but cutting off almost all of Britain just seems a bit much.

BTW, Armorica needs a bit of work too on that map.

 

[TDK]

It looks good Rhye, great way to center the world on Greece and give them more tiles.

But what are those two blobs in the north. I'm guessing one is Britain but what about the other? - Scandinavian peninsular?
Nothing really happened in the Scandinavian peninsular before 600AD so maybe you could exclude that and add Denmark and larger Britain instead? Those two actually had some interaction with the Mediterannean world.

TDK

 

[kairob]

I think one 'blob' is Ireland.

 

[Panopticon]

I think one 'blob' is Ireland.

If it's based on Erastothenes's map, then they are Ireland and Great Britain.

 

[Rhye]

I've added another preview. I haven't had free time to add some of the changes you suggested, yet.

I'm thinking of changing plains to 2 food, 1 shield and grass to 1 food. And forbidding cities in forests. Northern lands are poor!

 

[BurnEmDown]

One thing I don't understand Rhye, why are there 2 pics in each preview? It seems one is missing the British isles too, and is more focused on Greece and the surrounding areas (even tho Greece is smaller in that picture).

 

[ZachScape]

One is how it was in the original GW, and the other is the current status of the RFGW Map.